News about the construction and fitting out of the Weaving House
We have moved on to the final coat of lime mortar plaster on the Weaving House. In the photo the bottom 4 panels have been completed which contrast with the top panels which are base coat only. The top coat goes on a lot quicker than the base coat.
There is a problem that we get through the mortar rapidly and, as it is all being mixed by hand, it is quite hard to keep up with the plasterers.
The latest work on the Weaving House has been aided by the young carers who came on site over the summer. They turned their hand to making decorated hazel spindles that would guard the edge of the mezzanine floor. This also includes a door for access.
Next the ladder that was originally made to access the mezzanine floor in the granary has been strengthened and re-purposed to provide the access to the weaving house mezzanine. It is fastened to the main beam at the edge of the floor by pin hinges and cannot easily be removed or detached. A lifting mechanism has been provided to enable storage of the ladder at ceiling height so that all of the ground floor space is totally useable. A rope and pulley system has been installed to enable raising and lowering of the ladder. A temporary fastening has been provided for the rope loop to be hooked onto whilst we source and appropriate hand made iron hook and tethering ring to provide the final fixing.
The outer walls of the building continue to have plaster applied to the laths but I think it will be early 2024 before they are complete.
Anyone who fancies learning master plastering skills is very welcome to join us on Tuesday work days as we continue to fill in the walls of the weaving house.
John hones his rendering skills on the Weaving House walls.
The fall of sunshine through the laths creates a lovely pattern.
…… and Beryl still has many looms to prepare before the next school day.
New hazel wall being expertly crafted by the Tuesday maintenance team.
The finished wall – making the Forge look very neat
In all the excitement of the Kiln project don’t forget we are still on site every Tuesday doing regular maintenance jobs, preparing for school days and, of course, drinking tea.
Tom took some time one sunny day after Christmas to just wander round the site and take some pictures. It is always good to take a minute to step back and take a look at the things we have done or are doing. Also assess the things that need to put on the list for the maintenance team to have a look at.
The roundhouse build is now reaching completion, a lot has been learned about the consistency of the daub.
The weaving house is now being daubed. the paneling on the end gables is already starting to weather in nicely
One of the up coming projects is to repair and repoint the kitchen hearth.
The Weaving House now has some panels daubed with a lime mortar mix which will add much to its character
The new larch covered gable ends that have been finished by the maintenance team.
March 2022 saw us celebrating the fixing of the final shingles and boards to the Weaving House roof.
The volunteers have spent many hours making shingles, fixing them, recovering them from the fire and refixing them, it was a great thing to celebrate.
Everyone put their time and effort in to see the job done. Simon and John were especially diligent in the preparation and fixing of the shingles. But it was a real team effort. Thanks to everyone.
Stephen wrote and performed a celebratory piece which I reproduce here.
‘Seeouroof’
(Plundered by Stephen Worrall from ‘Beowulf’)
The fortunes favoured Hands on Heritage. Friends and
kinsmen flocked to it’s support; young followers, a force
to grow, future kinsmen.
So their mind turned to hall-building: they handed down
orders for men to work on a great weaving-hall meant to
be a wonder of the eastern shore for ever;
it would be their weaving-room, there to dispense
wisdom and skill to young and old.
Orders for work to adorn that wallstead and roof were
sent to many peoples. Some renowned in the art of
shingling, powerful counsellors, journeying far, would
lend advice, doubting the skills of the followers, too hard
an ordeal.
But the comrades rallied, skilled in the use of ancestral
blades, brave in their quest.
They proved their mastery in hall-building.
Then a Dragon, on the prowl from the steep vaults of a
stone-roofed barrow where he guarded a hoard writhed
with anger when he found the hall within his lands. The
vile sky-winger, belched out flames and burnt bright
homesteads, lashing shingle and thatch, everywhere the
havoc he wrought was in evidence. Back to the hoard he
would dart before daybreak, to hide in his den.
Then the Custodians were given bad news, a hard truth.
Deep anguish. The darkened mood gave way to a great
determination among the kinsmen, to see the fire dragon
thwarted. Then the order was given for all hands to help
to refurbish the Weaving Hall immediately. Men used
honed iron to cleave fine timbers, gifted craftsmen,
labour of love.
For three winters they toiled until soon it stood there,
finished and ready, in full view, the hall of halls. The hall
towered, its gables wide and high. Many did praise its
symmetry and craftsmanship.
The Custodians called for a great feasting, round upon
round of mead was passed. They sang then and played,
harp tunes and tales of adventure. There were high
times on the hall benches.
The world did hear tell of this wondrous wallstead. They
were a right people.
With apologies to Seamus Heaney
Thanks to everyone for the pictures – and, of course, for their hard work. It was a serious milestone for us all.
Tony could be holding the last shingle he will need to cleave for the weaving house roof. We are on the last leg of a very long and productive few years of making shingles. It is very exciting and I don’t think we can quite believe it. The maintenance crew are now very proficient in preparing and hanging the sweet chestnut shingles. I am sure we could confidently bid for heritage roofing contracts and give anyone a real run for their money. Watch out for news of the ‘topping out ceremony’.
This Tuesday saw another fair weather day in the wood. The team worked hard processing the logs into shingles and attaching them to the Weaving House roof.
Donald and Tony were giving it their all cleaving the logs, so much so that the mallet finally disintegrated. Jon needed two attempts to make them a new one! He made the classic error of sawing too far down into the handle with the first one.
John and Beryl used both shaving horse and carpenter’s plane to finish the shingles to the right size and smoothness.
No matter how fast the team worked we couldn’t keep up with the shingle fixers! They spent a fair time helping us make more or waiting for the next ‘right size’ shingle.
Still at the end of the day we had added substantially to the number of shingles on the roof. Thanks to all that came and helped.
The latest maintenance day saw further progress on the Weaving House roof. A new delivery of sweet chestnut logs meant the team could swing into ‘full factory production’ mode to help keep the roofers supplied.
The Thursday team have been working hard on the thatching of the Roundhouse roof.
Last Tuesday we had a good team working on the shingles. It was the first day that we felt it was really Autumn and although the sun was shining it was distinctly chilly in the shade. In between throwing the ball for Gemma, everyone applied themselves to the preparation and fixing of the shingles. Thanks to everyone and we look forward to seeing you again on site next week.
